Former EMT now has time for city post

Darlene Carbaugh is taking a proactive approach to the problems facing the City of Basehor.

She's running for City Council.

"I've gotten really interested in what's going on in the city that I plan on retiring in forever," she said. "I decided I wasn't going to stay at home and complain to other people. I decided I was going to see if I could benefit."

Carbaugh, 58, has filed for one of three spots up for grabs on the Basehor City Council. Others that have filed include Terry Hill, Jason Gorup, incumbent Iris Dysart, Jim Washington, George Smith and Roger McDowell. A primary will be conducted Feb. 27 to eliminate one of the seven candidates. The remaining six will advance to the April 3 general election.

A resident of Basehor since 1995, Carbaugh said she's thought of running previously, but a mixture of working long hours as an emergency medical technician and raising a family remained her priority. She said now that she has a job with regular hours and the children have grown up, she's ready for the commitment.

"I feel like I could give more than I could have a few years ago," she said. "You need to put yourself in it full time, not just on a part-time basis."

Now working for a doctor's office in Leavenworth, Carbaugh said her "jack of all trades" position there, as well as her experience as an EMT, will help her contribute positively to the council.

"I definitely have common sense," she said. "I also get along with people well. When I'm told to do something I'll follow through until it gets done. You solve problems by discussing them and working them out."

She said that in the coming weeks, she hopes she can get out into the community and allow residents to ask her questions.

"I want the city to improve and have it run the way the taxpayers want it run," she said. "I have a lot of ideas that would be a benefit for the city."